ExodusPoint Capital Management LP Purchases Shares of 8,147 Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL)

ExodusPoint Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 8,147 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $441,000. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP owned 0.05% of Unitil at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. US Bancorp DE raised its position in Unitil by 8,333.3% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,024 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $110,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA grew its position in shares of Unitil by 32.0% during the 4th quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 5,374 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $291,000 after buying an additional 1,304 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in Unitil by 14.2% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,703 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $309,000 after acquiring an additional 709 shares in the last quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management raised its position in shares of Unitil by 12.3% in the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 6,515 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $353,000 after acquiring an additional 715 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in Unitil during the fourth quarter valued at about $385,000. 76.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Unitil Stock Performance

Unitil stock traded up $0.73 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $58.62. The company had a trading volume of 49,698 shares, compared to its average volume of 61,415. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The company's fifty day moving average is $56.42 and its 200-day moving average is $56.56. The company has a market capitalization of $952.41 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.01 and a beta of 0.58. Unitil Co. has a 12-month low of $48.36 and a 12-month high of $63.52.

Unitil Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 13th were given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 13th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. This is a boost from Unitil's previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Unitil's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.43%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Guggenheim reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of Unitil in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th.

Unitil Company Profile

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through two segments, Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations. The company distributes electricity in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire, and the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and distributes natural gas in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, including the city of Portland and the Lewiston-Auburn area, as well as electricity and natural gas in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts.